At some point, many of us face a breaking moment at work when quitting feels like the only viable option.
The purpose that once energized you? Draining.
The team that felt like family? Disconnected, disjointed.
The work that felt meaningful? Devastatingly uninspiring.
The joy that carried you each day? Swallowed up by disappointment, disillusionment, and distress.
You’ve prayed. You’ve tried to stay. And you find yourself wondering: Is it time to move on?
I’ve been there.
I’ve prematurely thrown in the towel at a job—escaping discomfort instead of discerning if God had truly released me. I paid the price of uprooting too soon. I was weary and never took the space to ask: God, are You done here? Or am I just done? Gratefully, God turned it for good and even rerouted me back to where I was supposed to be. Like the Good Shepherd He is.
I’ve also stayed. I’ve stayed after I begged God to release me. I’ve planted my feet in faith when every part of me wanted to flee. And in staying, I’ve seen what only obedience reveals: abundant fruit, renewed joy, deeper character, and a spiritual maturity that you can’t manufacture.
Sometimes staying feels like a setback, but I’ve learned that nothing compares to the richness that grows when we remain rooted and obedient—even in dry soil when planted seeds are unseen.
Pause Before You Quit
Don’t make a permanent decision out of temporary exhaustion. Before writing that resignation letter or initiating hard conversations, pause. Not to suppress the frustration, but to bring it into the light and look into the heart of it. Sometimes what we perceive to be a job problem is a heart problem. This can be especially true in ministry–where souls need extra tending and care.
Here are some revealing questions to ask yourself if you feel ready to quit:
1. Am I personally unhealthy in a way that clouds how I see my work?
Are you spiritually dry? Burned out? Grieving? Disconnected from community? Sometimes our dissatisfaction with work stems from deeper personal weariness. I love the quote: “If you get tired, learn to rest, not quit.” Give it 60 days of rest. Give it space. Take a breath. You may just need to rest, not quit.
2. Am I trying to escape something I don’t want to face?
Hard conversations? Lingering conflict? Internal doubts? External pressure? Escaping feels easier, but healing comes through honesty; not avoidance.
3. What’s motivating my desire to leave?
Stress? Potential for a higher salary? Approval? A genuine leading from God? There’s a big difference between running away and being called forward.
4. Where can I find contentment today?
1 Timothy 6:6-8 reminds us: “Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.” Contentment isn’t comfort. Sometimes, through the fire, God is forging a contentment that surpasses circumstances and understanding. Find contentment now while you are called there instead of letting a bitter root form.
5. Are there seeds I’ve planted here that still need to be watered?
Don’t leave the garden half-tended. Water what you’ve sown, even if the harvest isn’t visible yet.
Sometimes, the very place you want to escape is where your roots are going deepest. Pruning often precedes growth. Pain doesn’t always mean it’s time to leave. It might mean God is preparing you for Kingdom-prepared missions ahead.
Look at Scripture
When I think of people in Scripture who had an easy opt-out to quitting their calling, I first think of Paul. His ministry was marked by perpetual hardship—betrayal, shipwrecks, beatings, rejection. Yet, in all of it, he remained faithful.
Paul wrote in Philippians 3:14, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
He kept going not because it was easy, but because he had a clear understanding of his call and the One who called him. He was determined and defiant to finish the race he was called to run.
As I reflect on the powerful stories throughout Scripture, I can’t help but wonder what would’ve happened if some of the pillars of the faith hadn’t endured hardship to make much of God. If they forego choosing to stay, they could’ve written themselves out of some of the most powerful stories we have as the Church of God’s faithfulness. A few examples come to mind…
Noah – For over a century, he remained faithful when building the ark despite no sign of rain and not even knowing what an ark was, and his obedience preserved humanity (Genesis 6-9).
Joseph – He committed to consistent integrity and faithfulness in the pit, the prison, and in Pharaoh’s palace. He had every reason to remain bitter, but stayed faithful. God used him to preserve nations and reconcile his family. (Genesis 37-50).
Ruth – Chose to stay with Naomi instead of returning to her own people. Her loyalty to Naomi and to God positioned her in the lineage of Jesus. (Ruth 1-4)
Joshua - Chose to stay and lead when others doubted. He stepped into Moses’ shoes and faithfully brought God’s people into the Promised Land. (Joshua 1-24)
Esther – Chose to stay and risk her life by approaching the king to save her people. She didn’t run from the moment—she rose to it for such a time as this. (Esther 4-7)
Peter – Chose to stay and lead after failure. Though he denied Jesus three times, he didn’t walk away in shame. He returned, was restored, and became the rock Jesus would build His Church. (John 21, Acts 2)
Jesus – Best picture of this. Chose to stay and face the cross. In Gethsemane, He prayed for the cup to pass, but His obedience to the Father’s will became our salvation (Matthew 26:36-46).
As we read passages of people anchored in something stronger than their circumstances—obedience—it helps strengthen and fortify us to persevere in the call to be planted right where we are.
When You Don’t Know What to Do
If you’re overwhelmed and directionless, remember that the Word is a light to your path (Psalm 119:105). Proverbs 11:14 talks about how there is safety in seeking guidance from multiple counselors. James 1:5 says that if you need wisdom, ask, and God will give it.
You may not see the whole path, but just obey the next step, confident that God will lead you. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
One Day at a Time
If you’re in the thick of it—longing to quit, unsure if you should stay—take it one day at a time. You don’t have to figure out the next five years. Just obey today.
The world celebrates change, success, and movement. But God celebrates faithfulness. The kind that shows up when it’s hard. The kind that keeps serving, loving, and trusting—even when no one’s watching and embracing the reward in the refining.
If you sense the Spirit whispering, “Not yet…”…stay. Sometimes staying in the soil you’re tending just might be the holy, hidden, and refining work of God about to grow something beautiful.
